Powderless machine gun



c. TURNER POWDERLESS MACHINE GUN Filed June '7, 1923 Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

UNTED STATES CLIFFORD TURNER, OF LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA.

POWDERLESS MACHINE GUN.

Application filed June 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that CLIFFORD TURNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynchburg, in the county of Campbell and State of Virginia, has invented new and useful Improvements in Powderless Machine Guns, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for discharging projectiles or missiles either of the solid or explosive type from guns particularly of large caliber and out of the machine of simple type under conditions facilitating the introduction of the explosive agency and dispensing with the use of powder or like solid explosive by the substitution therefor of a fluid explosive agency either in liquid or gaseous form and more particularly to provide refining means for controlling the admission and firing of the explosive charge to facilitate rapid firing with the minimum of risk to the attendants; and with these objects in view, the invention consists in a con- :struction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the inven tion, partly in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail vertical section on an enlarged scale, showing particularly the rear end of the barrel The barrel 10 is preferably of great length as compared with the diameter of its bore in order to afford a prolonged impelling action of the exploding charge upon the projectile before the latter leaves the muzzle, said barrel being fulcrumed for elevation at 11 by the side blocks 12 forming elements of a carriage which is revolubly mounted upon a center stud 13 of the base 14, the base preferably having a raised Center platform or hearing area 15 to afford a solid support for the carriage and the rotary or range movement of the apparatus being controlled by a hand wheel 16 connected by suitable gearing with a pinion 17 meshing with a stationary gear 18 on the stub spindle 13. Likewise a hand wheel 19 may through suitable intermediate gearing be utilized to vary the elevation of the barrel in sighting thereof to the end that the adjustment may be eflfected manually;

1923. Serial No. 643,948.

In communication with the breech of the gun barrel, which is provided with an end opening 20 for the reception of the projectiles and is fitted with a removable block 21 suitably fortified as in the present practice against displacement under the pressure of an exploding charge, is a feed tube 22 lead ing from a reservoir 23 preferably carried by the barrel and designed to contain a sufiicient quantity of gasolene or other hydrocarbon of a relatively high volatility to provide several charges. The feed tube is provided with a controlling valve 24% and the reservoir with a filling opening fitted with a suitable cap 25. The reservoir is thus carried by the breech end of the barrel in posi tion to supply explosive to the explosion chamber, regardless of the elevation or range adjustment of the barrel.

The ignition device consists of a battery 26, or its equivalent, having connection by a conductor 27 with a spark plug 28 and including a suitable switch 29 adapted for manual operation, to the end that the ignition circuit may be closed when the gun has been properly charged and sighted.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful is A gun of the type indicated having a barrel carrying a reservoir for a liquid explosive agency and having a valve controlled communication with the explosion chamber of the barrel, an ignition apparatus having a spark plug exposed to the explosive charge and a manually actuable switch carried by the breech of the barrel, a carriage in which the barrel is mounted for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, a base upon which the carriage is mounted for revolution in a horizontal plane, and means for effecting the elevation and revoluble movements of the barrel and carriage, said base having an elevated platform or hearing surface for the carriage with a central stud disposed axially with relation thereto, and means for revolving the carriage consisting of a pinion mounted on the carriage and engaging a gear concentric with said stud, and an exposed hand wheel onerat-ively connected with said pinion.

In testimony whereof he affixes his signature.

{CLIFFORD TURNER, 

